Effects of functional milk containing galactooligosaccharide, maltitol, and glucomannan on the production of hydrogen gas in the human intestine

Effects of Intestinal Bacterial Hydrogen Gas Production on Muscle Recovery following Intense Exercise in Adult Men: A Pilot Study

This study aimed to examine the effects of hydrogen gas (H₂) produced by intestinal microbiota on participant conditioning to prevent intense exercise-induced damage. In this double-blind, randomized, crossover study, participants ingested H₂-producing milk that induced intestinal bacterial H₂ production or a placebo on the trial day, 4 h before performing an intense exercise at 75% maximal oxygen uptake for 60 min. Blood marker levels and respiratory variables were measured before, during, and after exercise. Visual analog scale scores of general and lower limb muscle soreness evaluated were 3.8- and 2.3-fold higher, respectively, on the morning after treatment than that before treatment during the placebo trial, but not during the test beverage consumption. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentrations and production rates significantly increased with placebo consumption; no changes were observed with test beverage consumption. After exercise, relative blood lactate levels with H₂-producing milk consumption were lower than those with placebo consumption. A negative correlation was observed between the variation of 8-OHdG and the area under the curve (AUC) of breath H₂ concentrations. Lipid oxidation AUC was 1.3-fold higher significantly with H₂-producing milk than with placebo consumption. Conclusively, activating intestinal bacterial H₂ production by consuming a specific beverage may be a new strategy for promoting recovery and conditioning in athletes frequently performing intense exercises.

Randomized, crossover clinical efficacy trial in humans and mice on tear secretion promotion and lacrimal gland protection by molecular hydrogen

The incidence of dry eye disease is increasing worldwide because of the aging population and increasing use of information technology. Dry eye disease manifests as tear-layer instability and inflammation caused by osmotic hypersensitization in tear fluids; however, to our knowledge, no agent that treats both pathologies simultaneously is available. Molecular hydrogen (H₂) is known to be effective against various diseases; therefore, we aimed to elucidate the effects of H₂ on tear dynamics and the treatment of dry eye disease. We revealed that administering a persistent H₂-generating supplement increased the human exhaled H₂ concentration (p < 0.01) and improved tear stability (p < 0.01) and dry eye symptoms (p < 0.05) significantly. Furthermore, H₂ significantly increased tear secretion in healthy mice (p < 0.05) and significantly suppressed tear reduction in a murine dry eye model (p = 0.007). H₂ significantly and safely improved tear stability and dry eye symptoms in a small exploratory group of 10 human subjects, a subset of whom reported dry eye symptoms prior to treatment. Furthermore, it increased tear secretion rapidly in normal mice. Therefore, H₂ may be a safe and effective new treatment for dry eye disease and thus larger trials are warranted.

Maltitol: Analytical Determination Methods, Applications in the Food Industry, Metabolism and Health Impacts

Bulk sweetener maltitol belongs to the polyols family and there have been several dietary applications in the past few years, during which the food industry has used it in many food products: bakery and dairy products, chocolate, sweets. This review paper addresses and discusses in detail the most relevant aspects concerning the analytical methods employed to determine maltitol's food safety and industry applications, its metabolism and its impacts on human health. According to our main research outcome, we can assume that maltitol at lower doses poses little risk to humans and is a good alternative to using sucrose. However, it causes diarrhoea and foetus complications at high doses. Regarding its determination, high-performance liquid chromatography proved the primary method in various food matrices. The future role of maltitol in the food industry is likely to become more relevant as processors seek alternative sweeteners in product formulation without compromising health.

Hydrogen-producing milk to prevent reduction in tear stability in persons using visual display terminals

PURPOSE

To examine the effect of hydrogen (H₂)-producing milk, which induces H₂ production by intestinal microbiota, on the prevention of dry eye disease.

METHODS

A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group comparative study was conducted in humans. Of 118 candidates aged 20-60 years who were using visual display terminals daily, 54 subjects (mean age, 42.4 years) with mild-to-moderate dry eye symptoms, who were not dry eye patients based on the 2006 Japanese Diagnostic Criteria for Dry Eye, were included in the study. Subjects were assigned to the H₂-producing milk group or the placebo group. They were instructed to ingest the assigned test beverage once per day for three consecutive weeks. Breath H₂ concentration, fluorescein tear film breakup time (fTBUT), Schirmer's test, 8-OHdG concentration in tears, reported ocular symptoms using the dry eye-related QOL score questionnaire, and the visual analogue scale were assessed at weeks 0 and 3.

RESULTS

Change in fTBUT in the H₂-producing milk group was significantly greater than that in the placebo group. A significant decline in fTBUT was observed in the placebo group (p = 0.04), but not the H₂-producing group (p = 0.26). This phenomenon was strongly observed in females. We found a positive correlation between the change in fTBUT and net H₂ production, and a negative correlation between the change in 8-OHdG concentration and net H₂ production in young females.

CONCLUSIONS

H₂-producing milk appeared to retard the decline in tear stability and may prevent short fTBUT-type dry eye by decreasing oxidative stress in the lacrimal functional unit.

Transplantation of High Hydrogen-Producing Microbiota Leads to Generation of Large Amounts of Colonic Hydrogen in Recipient Rats Fed High Amylose Maize Starch

The hydrogen molecule (H₂), which has low redox potential, is produced by colonic fermentation. We examined whether increased H₂ concentration in the portal vein in rats fed high amylose maize starch (HAS) helped alleviate oxidative stress, and whether the transplantation of rat colonic microbiota with high H₂ production can shift low H₂-generating rats (LG) to high H₂-generating rats (HG). Rats were fed a 20% HAS diet for 10 days and 13 days in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. After 10 days (experiment 1), rats underwent a hepatic ischemia–reperfusion (IR) operation. Rats were then categorized into quintiles of portal H₂ concentration. Plasma alanine aminotransferase activity and hepatic oxidized glutathione concentration were significantly lower as portal H₂ concentration increased. In experiment 2, microbiota derived from HG (the transplantation group) or saline (the control group) were orally inoculated into LG on days 3 and 4. On day 13, portal H₂ concentration in the transplantation group was significantly higher compared with the control group, and positively correlated with genera Bifidobacterium, Allobaculum, and Parabacteroides, and negatively correlated with genera Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Escherichia. In conclusion, the transplantation of microbiota derived from HG leads to stable, high H₂ production in LG, with the resultant high production of H₂ contributing to the alleviation of oxidative stress.